HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- In an effort to grow the sport of table tennis, the American Youth Table Tennis Organization stopped by Holyoke High School North Campus on Tuesday.

In partnership with the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, the event aims to expand youth table tennis clubs across the Paper City.

Besides improving both coordination and physical health, the safe neighborhood initiative uses table tennis to mentor students, while keeping them away from negative influences.

Eddie Caisse from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office says, “We use a lot of different activities to try to get in front of the youth, and it’s all about developing character and mentoring the kids, but what we really like about table tennis is the physical benefits and then the mental health benefits. There’s a lot of not just cardio benefits from table tennis, but it really hits on cognitive development, it really hits on focus.”

According to officials, funding from the MassMutual Foundation is also helping support table tennis clubs in multiple Holyoke schools.

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